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A review by lectrixnoctis
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
5.0
Louisa May Alcott, a feminist, abolitionist and accomplished novelist with fifteen titles and various short stories, has created this ever-so-important classic about women’s struggle between familial duty and personal growth while pointing out the danger of gender stereotypes. If you ever read this novel, it will surely astonish you that this woman wrote this masterpiece in the 19th century because of her modern take on gender equality.
The narrative about “Little Women” is about the four March girls’- known as Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy- the story of sisterly adventures and growing up, which is loosely based on the author's lives and her three sisters. The time of their childhood and teenage years and the novel's beginning is set during the American civil war.
The main character of this novel would be the “tomboyish” and strong-willed sister called Jo. She’s the second oldest daughter of the family and wants to become an author when she’s an adult. Meg, her older sister, battles her girlish weakness for luxury and money throughout the whole story. The third sister is Beth. She’s timid and quiet. Like Meg, she always wants to please everybody and never has high ambitions, and like Jo, she tries to keep the family together as close as possible. The youngest sister is the beautiful Amy. She does have an artistic passion and know-how to act like a lady, unlikely Jo. Another important character is Theodore Laurence, called Laurie. He’s the charming, witty and intelligent next-door neighbour and becomes Jo’s best friend throughout the novel.
As already mentioned, Alcott displays the struggle between familial duty and the personal growth of women in this book. This emphasises the conflict in a young women’s life that she will either choose one or the other. While many women prefer the family path, Alcott tries to demonstrate with her character Jo that there is, in fact, another way.
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
Jo also doesn’t fit in the typical stereotype of women at that time. Even her name suggests that she does have, in fact, a rather “manly” approach to life.
She wants to become independent and earn her leave while her sisters are happily marrying. You could even argue that Jo could be queer as she doesn’t fuss over “girly” stuff and instead likes to play with the neighbour’s boy, and although she forms a rather tight bond with Laurie, she refuses to marry him, which perplexed many readers at the time. How every, Jo eventually ends up marrying a German professor called Mr Friedrich Bhear. Alcott, however, never intended Jo to marry, according to a letter to one of her friends in 1869. I believe that she did make Jo marry since the readers wanted for Jo a happy ending.
Overall, the writing style of Louisa May Alcott is rather beautiful and easy to read. She also uses language as a character raid of the girls; while Beth doesn’t talk much, Meg speaks in a proper language. Jo may swear at some time while Amy mispronounces words. This novel gave me so much joy, and I do believe it is an absolute must-read!
The narrative about “Little Women” is about the four March girls’- known as Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy- the story of sisterly adventures and growing up, which is loosely based on the author's lives and her three sisters. The time of their childhood and teenage years and the novel's beginning is set during the American civil war.
The main character of this novel would be the “tomboyish” and strong-willed sister called Jo. She’s the second oldest daughter of the family and wants to become an author when she’s an adult. Meg, her older sister, battles her girlish weakness for luxury and money throughout the whole story. The third sister is Beth. She’s timid and quiet. Like Meg, she always wants to please everybody and never has high ambitions, and like Jo, she tries to keep the family together as close as possible. The youngest sister is the beautiful Amy. She does have an artistic passion and know-how to act like a lady, unlikely Jo. Another important character is Theodore Laurence, called Laurie. He’s the charming, witty and intelligent next-door neighbour and becomes Jo’s best friend throughout the novel.
As already mentioned, Alcott displays the struggle between familial duty and the personal growth of women in this book. This emphasises the conflict in a young women’s life that she will either choose one or the other. While many women prefer the family path, Alcott tries to demonstrate with her character Jo that there is, in fact, another way.
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
Jo also doesn’t fit in the typical stereotype of women at that time. Even her name suggests that she does have, in fact, a rather “manly” approach to life.
She wants to become independent and earn her leave while her sisters are happily marrying. You could even argue that Jo could be queer as she doesn’t fuss over “girly” stuff and instead likes to play with the neighbour’s boy, and although she forms a rather tight bond with Laurie, she refuses to marry him, which perplexed many readers at the time. How every, Jo eventually ends up marrying a German professor called Mr Friedrich Bhear. Alcott, however, never intended Jo to marry, according to a letter to one of her friends in 1869. I believe that she did make Jo marry since the readers wanted for Jo a happy ending.
Overall, the writing style of Louisa May Alcott is rather beautiful and easy to read. She also uses language as a character raid of the girls; while Beth doesn’t talk much, Meg speaks in a proper language. Jo may swear at some time while Amy mispronounces words. This novel gave me so much joy, and I do believe it is an absolute must-read!